Kartchner Caverns
Arizona, 70°F inside, from $30.00
70°F
inside, all year
Colossal Cave
Vail, AZ
40 min
on the main tour
$24
adult ticket
A dry cave about 15 minutes southeast of Tucson at a steady 70°F, with a classic walking tour and ladder and wild tours for the adventurous.
The story
The Hohokam used the Cave as temporary shelter as early as 900 AD. Solomon Lick rediscovered the Cave in 1879 while searching for stray cattle. The Cave became legendary when train robbers used it as a hideout. In 1905 a tunnel was excavated to mine bat guano until it ran out. Tours were taken in Colossal Cave in the late teens and early twenties.
- Found
- 1879
History source: colossalcave.com.
What you'll see
- Stalactites
- Stalagmites
- Flowstone
- Box work
- Helictites
Tickets and timing
- Adults
- $24 (Classic tour); Ladder tour $60 (12+)
- Kids
- $14 (ages 5–12). No children under 5 on tours.
- How long it takes
- About 40 minutes (Classic Cave Tour)
- Hours
- Park 8am–4pm daily, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cave tours Mon–Thu 9am–3pm, Fri–Sun 9am–4pm.
- Booking
- Book cave tours online in advance.
Getting around underground
- The walk
- Half-mile guided walk descending approximately six stories deep (363 stair steps).
Dogs, weather and what to wear
- Dogs
- No pets or service animals are allowed on any cavern tour; do not leave pets in vehicles during a tour.
- Temperature
- 70°F year-round
Good to know
- Minimum age
- No Children under 5 allowed on tour
- Best time to go
- Make your reservation early because space is limited on the most popular tour.
- Food and drink
- Cafe and Gift Shop open 10am-3pm with grab-n-go food options.
- Wildlife
- Bats; visitors are asked to spray their shoes with rubbing alcohol to protect bats from white-nose syndrome.
- On site
- Cafe, Gift Shop, campground, stables (horseback riding)
Getting there
16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641
Directions in Google MapsDistances are straight-line from each city center.
Questions people ask
How long does a visit to Colossal Cave take?
About 40 minutes (Classic Cave Tour)
How cold is it inside Colossal Cave?
70°F year-round.
Are dogs allowed at Colossal Cave?
No pets or service animals are allowed on any cavern tour; do not leave pets in vehicles during a tour.
Do you need to book Colossal Cave in advance?
Book cave tours online in advance.
When was Colossal Cave discovered?
1879, according to the cave's own history.
Is there a minimum age for Colossal Cave?
No Children under 5 allowed on tour
Where is Colossal Cave?
16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641
Listed in: caves with camping or lodging
Checked on 2026-10-22 against colossalcave.com (home and rates pages). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.